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The West Central Area football team has only five returning starters from last year, but a number of players with varsity experience will be claiming starting positions this fall. Head Coach Nate Wood is in his sixth season at the helm and will be assisted by Kevin McNamara, Dave Stone, Todd Hickman, Ross Anderson, Jordan Lohse and Dallas Koplin.
The Knights were 6-4 a year ago, as they struggled through a year that saw them lose teammate Tyler Stone to an early season accident. Highlights included Anthony Sykora setting the all-time school career rushing record and career TD record, and Cole Anderson setting the all-time receiving TD and receiving yards record. Three members of that team are continuing to play at the collegiate level with Sykora at MSUM, Beau Robinson at Central Lakes Community College in Brainerd and Blake Flint at M State in Fergus Falls. The Knights also lost Brett Amundson, Damon Sanstead, Issac Kreft, Justin Blascyk, Parker Stach, Peyton Hanson and Cole Anderson to gradation.
Seniors Adam Lohse (WR/DB), Brady Lindquist (QB/LB), Nas Dotts (RB/LB) and Will Rustan (OL/DL) and junior Hunter Gruchow (RB/LB) are back from the 2022 team as starters.
The following players will be vying for playing time and starting positions:
Seniors – Ben Nyreen (OL/DL), Jackson Nadgwick (OL/DL), Weston Ulrich (OL/DL), Lorenzo Somerset (RB/DB), Adam Merkins (OL/DL), Cam Anderson (WR), Grant Lindquist (LB), Tayten Blascyk (RB/LB) and Tristan Fagre (WR/DB)
Juniors – Ben Bye (TE/LB), Cash Nelson (RB/LB), Gavin Flint (OL/DL), Jeremy Blascyk (OL/DL), JR Redearth (OL/DL), Owen Sanstead (OL/DL), Sam Hansen (WR/DB), Tucker McGee (WR/DB), Tyler Girard (RB/LB), Zach Vick (OL) and Alan Pederson (DE)
Sophomores – Austin Bennett (TE), Brody Brunkow (DB), Gavin Backman (Long Snapper, OL/DL), Joseph Nessman (RB/DB), Logan Long (OL/LB), Marshall Dewey (QB) and Sam Olson (RB/LB)
All seniors will serve as captains for the Knights.
“This team is a fantastic group to be around,” stated Coach Wood. “They work hard and have fun with great team chemistry. The mentality that we are going to get better every day is apparent in all players. An area we need to figure out still is who is going to step up as a big time playmaker.”
Wood says the District is strong from top to bottom with KMS and BBE as probable front runners, while Breckenridge has had great success the past few seasons in Section 6A.